21 Nov 2017

Intelligent Movement

Physiotherapist Colin Symmonds, founder of Joint Dynamics, works on a client

As one of a body of clinicians meeting the demand for allied health therapies, Colin Symmonds saw an opportunity for a more collaborative approach. To that end, the physiotherapist, who has been working in Hong Kong since 2011, opened Joint Dynamics in June 2013.

Describing it as Hong Kong’s first multidisciplinary studio combining physiotherapy, manual therapy and personal training, the British-born health practitioner said the clinic aims to provide holistic health treatment under one roof.

“My clients were going from one place to see their physio, to another place to see their trainer, and another place for their massage or stretch therapist,” he said. “I decided that there must be a better way,” said Mr Symmonds, who noted that the arrangement allows for better treatment continuity, helping clients and patients progress faster.

Bespoke Approach

Andrew Cox trains a client at the Joint Dynamics gym in Central

The company provides a bespoke approach to the prevention and treatment of movement-impairment and injury. “Our credo is ‘intelligent movement,” Mr Symmonds said.

In addition to Mr Symmonds as CEO and physiotherapist, the business now has three other partners: Sharlene Jacquier, Director of Operations; David Jacquier, trainer and Director, Business Development, and Andrew Cox, Director of Training.

Having had his own personal-training business before merging with Joint Dynamics in 2014, Mr Cox said the company adopts a client-centric approach where the individual sees the most appropriate practitioner according to their needs. “Each practitioner then collaborates internally for a more comprehensive patient experience,” he said. “We also pride ourselves on a heightened learning curve for the practitioners through regular exposure to the different disciplines.”

Growing Business

Starting with six employees, Joint Dynamics today employs 28. Its data base has expanded by more than 2,000 per cent, or an average of 150 to 200 new clients per month, while its social media exposure has amassed more than 2,500 followers on Facebook alone.

“We have grown from one floor to three floors to then finding a new space big enough to put all those three floors with their respective disciplines (a gym, physiotherapy and chiropractic, massage therapy, among others) all onto the same floor,” Mr Cox said.

The business currently operates from one location in Central, with plans for a second studio in Central by January 2018, and a third in Quarry Bay by August 2018.

Apart from individual clients, corporate work is proving a significant growth driver for Joint Dynamics. “Offsite, we work with JP Morgan, the Four Seasons Hotel, Landmark Mandarin Oriental and the Jewish Community Centre to support them with personal training, group classes, swimming and the occasional physiotherapy sessions,” Mr Cox said.

In workplace wellness sessions, such as the ongoing arrangement with JP Morgan, clinicians work one-on-one with staff on a wide range of issues, from how they set up work desks, how they manage their day to be most productive, and strategies to manage neck, back and shoulder pain.

Investing in Health

One-off sessions are tailored to the client’s requirements.

“For instance, we recently partnered with the Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, for a sleep science event, promoting the benefits of deep, restorative sleep, and how to achieve it.

“Wellness is a powerful strategy to decrease costs, so it makes commercial sense.”

For companies facing the rising cost of insurance, workplace wellness can be a cheaper mechanism for keeping staff healthy, he adds.

“At the moment insurance is going up about four per cent every year, and that can be debilitating for a big company. Wellness is a powerful strategy to decrease costs, so it makes commercial sense.”

As a sideline, the company also sells and distributes health-related products such as Tru2U tart cherry juice (a natural sleep support), various nutritional supplements, and the Strapit and Gripit brands of tape for strapping and performance support.

Strength in Diversity

Mr Cox credits the diversity of the business for ensuring a steady revenue stream. It’s also an agile company, he explained. “We’re no longer the only multidisciplinary studio in Hong Kong, and don’t blame others for copying because it’s a good business model,” Mr Cox said. “But no one will ever catch us because we’re about three steps in front. For every challenge our competitors face, we’ve learned from our mistakes and already moved on.”

As for the company founder, Mr Symmonds describes Hong Kong as “an amazing place to open a business.”

“The city seems to really support an entrepreneurial spirit. It’s easy to set up a business and the regulations are not too onerous,” he said.

“Our clientele are very driven as individuals, most of them working in the financial sector – this makes them perfect weekend warriors and there are lots of potential patients and clients.”